VP Nkomo clothes thieves denied bail.

Two police officers who allegedly broke into the late Vice President Landa John Nkomo’s Bulawayo house and stole property valued at about $7 000 were on tuesday denied bail.Dismissing the bail application by Costa Fandi (25) and Hillary Ncube (29) Bulawayo magistrate, Mr Witness Mtetwa said they were not good candidates for bail.The magistrate further ruled that they were likely to abscond given the fact that once convicted they are likely to go to jail.

The pair was was remanded in custody to 11 March for trial.The court heard that Ncube and Fandi were assigned to perform guard duties at the late VP Nkomo’s home at Number 59 Muchbinding Road, Worringham between 24 January and 20 February this year.The State will seek to prove that during this period the two officers unlawfully and intentionally entered VP Nkomo’s house without permission and stole the property, which they sold to different people.

Ncube and Fandi of House Numbers 1111 and 880 Phakama Township in Gwanda respectively, are officers attached to the Police Protection Unit (PPU).The items stolen include a Plasma television set, a decoder, a Toshiba laptop, a mercer card, laptop bag, digital headphones, Cannon camera, United States representative silver sword, a binocular and a Unido Headquarters trophy.They also allegedly stole 25kg of beef, about six pairs of suits, shirts, ties, tracksuits, bathing towels, vests, a tracksuit, a hat and a cap as well as handkerchiefs.

Ncube and Fandi were arrested by officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on Friday after the complainant, Mr Jabulani Nkomo who is the late VP Nkomo’s son, made a report at Hillside Police Station.The court heard that after allegedly stealing the property, Ncube and Fandi went away with the loot unnoticed and sold it to different people.The prosecutor, Miss Tarisai Mutarisi, said after the arrest, the two officers allegedly admitted stealing the property.She, however, said property worth $7 002 out of $7 152 had been recovered.

Miss Tarisai Mutarisi appeared for the State while Mr Tungamirai Nyengera, of Mcijo, Dube and Partners defended the duo.VP Nkomo died on 17 January.